Wallpaper holding and paste applying device



Sept- 18, 1962 R. s. MElcHTRY 3,054,381

WALLPAPER HOLDING AND PASTE APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Haber!A S. Mel/awry INVENTOR.

www 25mg,

Sept. 18, 1962 R. s. MEICHTRY 3,054,381

WALLPAPER HOLDING AND PASTE APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \WALLPAPER (PASTED) 28 Fig. 7

Robert 5. Me/'chfry IN VEN TOR.

www? MU:

Sept. 18, 1962 R. s. MElcHTRY 3,054,381

WALLPAPER HOLDING AND PASTE APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 24, 19650 3 sheets-sheet s 1N VlfNToR.

Patented Sept. 18, 1952 3,054,381 WALLPAPER HOLDING AND PASTE APPLYING 11 Claims. (Cl. 118-9) The present invention relates to a device through the medium of which a user thereof may conveniently assist and aid himself in preparing wallpaper to be hung on a wall and pertains; more particularly classied, to a comparatively simple, mechanical device which facilitates applying paste, or an equivalent adhesive, to the attachable Side of a strip of wallpaper and also temporarily suspends the paste-coated strip to expedite cutting and hanging the same.

As the preceding general statement implies, many patents have been granted on apparatus, machines, and paper suspending devices. In fact, some devices, patented or not, have been devised for hanging wallpaper. The present invention involves an apparatus or device which holds a roll of paper, guides the paper over a paste applicator roller, assists in measuring the strip or length of paper which is to be cut and hung, and temporarily suspends the paste-coated paper close to the wall surface to aid the paperhanger, or other user, while carrying out the nal paper attaching and hanging step.

So far as has been ascertained, having investigated the prior art, the present concept relies chiefly for novelty on a simple, practical and expedient device which may be described as a ladder attachment; that is, an attachment which can be eftectually attached to the topmost step or platform on a stepladder. The attachment is vertically extensible and retractible and has means whereby it may be applied to the stepladder and thus located into position to perform the desired holding, paste-applying and suspended ready-to-hang steps.

In carrying out the invention a sectional frame structure is utilized, the same having a lower section which is attached directly to the top step or platform of the ladder and the other section being adjustable. The iirst section may be called the relatively stationary section. The `other one constitutes the adjustable or movable section and is provided with a paste containing pan and applicator roller associated therewith.

The invention also features a Wire or -an equivalent bail or the like similar to but larger than a holder for a roll of toilet paper and which stores the roll of Wallpaper which is to be unwound to the end that the paste may be applied to the attachable side thereof. Novelty is also predicated on a paper actuated tensioning roller which is mounted for iioating and is positively moved by the traveling wallpaper against the applicator roller, whereby the tension and movement of the wallpaper itself forces the directly coacting portion of the wallpaper against the periphery or surface of the applicator roller to insure eective application of the paste to the paper.

A modified form of the invention, as will be hereinafter clarified, has to do with a simple and economical adaptation employing a pair of aligned block-like members for hanger brackets which are fastened to supporting rails therefor, these members being notched to provide seating cradles for end portions of the glue pan. lIn this arrangement the cooperating rollers for the wallpaper are mounted in and constitute a part of the pan.

These together With other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a stepladder attachment constituting the preferred embodiment of the device herein referred to as a wallpaper paste applying and holding device.

FIG. 2 is a section on the plane of the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a section on the section line 3 3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a View in elevation observing, for instance, the structure as it would be seen from left to rig-ht by the reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detail fragmentary view with a portion appearing in section.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 7 7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective showing a modification embodying a simpler pan and roller construction.

FIG. 9 is a section on the vertical line 9 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. l0 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 8 disclosing a further modification of the invention.

FIG. ll is a section on the line 11-11 of FIG. l0.

With reference to FIGS. l to 7 of the drawings, the numeral 8 designates a conventional stepladder embodying the customary leg-frame construction and including, so far as this invention is concerned, a stationary top step or platform 10. It is to this step that the improved device, the aforementioned attachment, is attached when in use. Of course, it may be readily detached when it is not being used so as not to impair the normal use of the stepladder.

The attachment is an extensible and retractible frame structure, characterized by two companion or complemental sections; namely, a relatively stationary lower section 12, which is generally U-shaped, and an upper adjustable section 14. The U-shaped section 12 comprises a Abase or bottom panel 16 to the transverse ends of which a pair of spaced parallel arms 18 are suitably connected. The upper ends of the arms are provided on the rear edges 20 with cleats 22 suitably fixed in place and which function as stops or shoulders for the spaced parallel rails or arms 24 of the section 14. These members 24 are longer than the members 20 and they have mating and sliding association with the members 2.0. Actually, the U-shaped metal or equivalent straps 26 embrace the arms 24 and have their lateral end portions 28 fastened at 30 to the edges of the members 24. Consequently, these respective members, the outer ones 20 and the inner ones 24, have overlapping sliding relationship. With the edges 32 resting against the cleats 22 the desired assemblage of parts is had. However, it will be noticed that members 24 have longitudinally spaced selectively usable bolt holes 34 which serve to accommodate the insertable and removable bolts 36 (FIG. 5) which are provided with thumb nuts 38 to provide the desired assembled and adjustable association of the two sections 12 and 14, more specifically, the arm portions 20 and 32. thereof. The section 12 is attached to the platform 10 by way of clevislike clips 40. These clips are fastened to the base 16 and releasably hook over the platform 16.

It will be noticed that the upper edge portions of the members 24 are provided with suitably graduated scales 42 having numbers cooperable therewith and defining or providing reference scales. These scales may be referred to by the user in estimating the length of the particular paste-covered strip of paper which is to be cut from the main roll prior to application to the wall. A cross strip .44 has end portions mounted in notches 46 provided therefor and this strip has a surface substantially flush with the edges or surfaces 48 of the rails or members 24. Between the upper ends a free turning guide roller 50 is provided. Thus, these parts 44 and 50 serve to permit Vhand side of the paste pan 52.

Vintended strip which is to vthe user soon learns, aided by the calibrated scale, to do Y 3 the stretch of paper to be drawn up and properly guided after having been pasted.

Referring now to the numeral 52, this designates a suitably shaped and sized pan containing wallpaper paste 54. The longitudinal edge portions of the pan are prof vided with reinforcing beads 56 and '58 and the bead 58 is engageable over a rod portion 60 of a suitable bail or frame-type hanger 62 for the roll 64 of wallpaper. The horizontal portion `66 with a wooden or an equivalent hub 68 on which the dry wallpaper is wound. The applicator roller 70 is of suitable size and material and has means 72 whereby it is freely journalled in bearings (not detailed) provided therefor in the ends of the paste applying pan. The roller picks up paste and applies it to the wallpaper. To assist in accomplishing this step, a paper tensioning guide is provided. This guide comprises a roller 74 which is smaller than the roller 70 and which cooperates with the upper segmental portion of the roller 70. In fact, and as seen in FIG. 6, this roller 74 has headed journaling pins 76 which cooperate with the hooked upper ends 78 of brackets 79 fastened to the edge portions 81 in the man- (FIG. s) of the frame is provided ner shown. It will be noticed that'the hooked or ybill portions of the brackets are so arranged that they function as cams. In fact, the tendency of the paper as it is Vdrawn upwardly over the stationary guides is to lift the roller 74 bodily. When this is accomplished the journaling pins ride against the cam-'like hooksV on the brackets and this results in forcibly pressing the roller 74 toward the roller 72 and squeezing the paper between the roller surfaces in a manner to satisfactorily apply the adhesive to the attachable Wallpaper surface.

lIt is desirable to note the manner in which the paper is trained or threaded in relation to the parts of the invention for purposes of applying the paste thereto. With Yreference to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the portion A, Vwhich comes off the dry roll of wallpaper 64, is first drawn tautly over the bead 58 forming the lip on the left Y- Then, the portion B is directed laterally and over the applicator surface of the lapplying roller 70. In fact, the portion C travels between the -two cooperating rollers J70 and 74 with the roller 74 tensioning and Vtautening the paper and making sure that the surface which traverses the roller 70 will be eectually `coated with paste or adhesive. After leaving the roller 74 the stretch D of paper goes up and over the two guides 44 and 50 where it is allowed to hang down or drape as at E and F, respectively. The portion from E to F is the be hung and, -as before stated,

the necessary job expeditiously.

With reference to the modication disclosed in FIGS.

8 and k9 the extensible frame structure is denoted by the numeral 15 and embodies suitably connected spaced parallel rails or Stiles 17. Screw eyes 19 on the rear edges 21 support a horizontal rod 23 which is arranged, obviously, to accommodatmgly support the roll 25 of wallpaper in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

Continuing now with the pan and roller assembly the horizontal glue pan is here denoted by the numeral S0 the same having end walls 82. The larger roller, the applicator, is suitably mounted for rotation between the end walls, and is denoted at is denoted at 86. The wallpaper is strained or passed overthe'bead-like lip 88 and it isthen trained over the roller 84 as at 90 under the smaller roller at 92V yand is then directed upwardly at 94. The aforementioned blocklike cradling or hangerY brackets arerdenoted at 96 and are fastened to the inner sides of ythe rails by suitable lfasteners as at 98. rPhe end portions of the pan are seated in the cradling notches 100 provided therefor in the man ner shown.

34. The companion smaller roller frame 15 seen in FIG. 8. Here again, the rails or stiles l102 are provided with block-like hanger brackets or cradling members 104 fastened in place at 106. The notches 108 provide seats for the closed end portions 110 of the adhesive or paste containing pan 112. In this arrangement instead of having the rollers mounted in and as a part of the pan the rollers are mounted on adjustable `adapters each of which may be described as a sleeve 114. The sleeve is slidingly mounted on the rail and is provided with an Iadjusting or latchpin 116 which may be iitted selectively into keeper sockets or recesses 118 provided therefor as seen in FIG. l1. Each sleeve is provided Iwith a depending tongue or extension 120 and this extension carries the rotatably mounted large roller 122 and also the small roller 124. These movable roller-equipped sleeves provide for easier threading of the paper, full use of the glue or paste in the pan and permit the use of smaller rollers which may be arranged to turn or rotate more freely. It has been noted too that with this construction there is less likelihood of the longtitudinal edges of the wallpaper becoming needlessly soiled or unnecessarily coated with paste. By using the pin 1.16 and the sockets 118 three positions of the rollers are provided for; namely, the top, middle and bottom positions relative to the paste pan 112. The blocks or brackets '96 in FIG. 9 and 104 in FIGSi l0 and l2. are sometimes referred to as saddles having seats in which the end portions of the paste pan are suitably cradled or saddled. The rollers in either arrangement are approximately one-eighth of an inch apart with the bottom surface of the small roller sufficiently lower than the upper surface of the larger roller to provide the desired paste-applying result.

In the form of the invention last described the screw eyes are denoted at 126 and they support the rod or shaft 12S which in turn supports the roll of paper which is guided over the pan edge and rollers in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 9.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles vof the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A stepladder vattachment comprising a sectional frame structure embodying upper and lower complemental sections having spaced parallel arm members overlapped and ajustably joined together, said lower section having a rigid horizontal panel providing a base, the latter being provided with U-shaped attaching and retaining clips adapted to be hooked over fa platform step Yon a `stepladder to hold the base superimposed on said step, a paste containing pan mounted for operation on the upper section, an applicator roller mounted for pasteapplying use in said pan and located in a position to permit a surface portion of the wallpaper Vto be trained thereover, said upper section being provided at its upper endrwith a free turning guide roller over which a portion `of the paste-coated paper is adapted to be trained and guided, and a guide member also mounted on said upper 'section in a position below but adjacent to said roller.

' provided with a pair of upstanding spaced parallel arms,

The modification seen in FIGS. l0 and ll is not greatly y different from that seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. In `these iigures the frame is denoted at 15a and is similar to the an upper section having arms with lower and median portions slidingly contacting interior surfaces of the first-named arms and joined thereto by strapsv embracing the iirst-named arms, said first-named arms having rear edge portions provided with projecting stop-cleats, adjacent edges of the arms of the upper section having sliding contact with said cleats, the upper ends of the arms of said upper section having a free turning guide roller mounted therebetween, and a paste applicator pan mounted between median portions of the upper arms and provided interiorly with a free-idling paste-applying roller.

3. A self-contained attachment for a stepladder and which is adapted to support a roll of wallpaper and apply paste to a severable strip about to -be hung comprising a frame structure having a lower section of general U-shaped form embodying a base adapted to rest firmly and horizontally atop a platform step on a stepladder and provided with a pair of upstanding spaced parallel but obliquely inclined arms, an upper section having spaced parallel arms with lower and median portions slidingly contacting interior surfaces of the rst-named arms and joined thereto by straps embracing the first-named arms, said rst-named arms having rear edge portions provided with projecting stop-cleats, adjacent edges of the arms of the upper section having sliding contact with said cleats, the upper ends of the arms of said lupper section having a free turning guide roller mounted therebetween, and a paste applicator pan mounted between median portions of the upper arms and provided interiorly with a free-idling paste-applying roller, a companion smaller roller which is adjacent and parallel to the paste-applying roller and has its ends provided with self-adjusting journals, said journals being adapted to permit said smaller roller to be forcibly drawn by the action of the wallpaper against a surface of the paste-applying roller in `a manner to facilitate the step of insuring effective application of paste to a surface of the strip which is being acted on.

4. An attachment for a stepladder comprising a frame structure, a pan mounted horizontally on said frame structure and adapted to contain a predetermined quantity of wallpaper paste, a roller-type paste-applier having end portions mounted for free rotation adjacent the ends of said pan, said applier operating in the pan to perform its paste-applying job, said pan being provided along at least one side with an overhanging reinforcing bead, said bead constituting a wallpaper guide, a wire frame having a member associated with said bead and hingedly mounted on said frame structure, a lower portion of the same being provided with a roller constituting a hub for a roll of dry wallpaper, said frame structure being longitudinally extensible and retractible and having upper and lower companion sections, the upper section being provided with upper and lower wallpaper guides spaced apart in general parallelism, said guides being horizontally disposed when in use, being in a common plane, the lower guide being fixed, the upper guide being a freely rotatable roller and serving to permit a portion of the strip of paper to be both guided and draped thereover so that it may be allowed to be suspended in a position close to the wall surface to be papered, said frame structure having base means provided with attaching means capable of being removably mounted atop the top step of a stepladder and said base means supporting the frame proper in an inclined position which may be pitched toward the wall surface to facilitate the step of expeditiously cutting and applying the strip to said surface.

5. In combination, a stepladder having a leg structure provided with a platform-step mounted rigidly at the top of the leg structure and a self-contained wallpaper supplying paste-applying and pasted strip elevating and suspending attachment for said ladder comprising: a readily attachable and detachable frame structure having retaining members separably mounted atop said platform-step, said frame structure being supported in a plane wholly above the plane of the platform-step and inclining toward and beyond the rearward lengthwise edge of the platformstep, a paste containing pan mounted horizontally within the contines of said frame structure, a horizontally disposed paste applicator roller confined and mounted for idling in the receptacle portion of the pan over which the strip of wallpaper is tautened and drawn in a manner to impart rotation to said roller, a guide roller mounted for free rotation on an upper portion of said frame structure in a position spaced vertically above and parallel to the applicator roller and serving to permit a non-pasted side of the pasted strip to be drawn thereover in a manner to then assume a depending position in readiness for measuring and cutting preparatory to application to a wall surface, and support means for a supply roll of wallpaper arranged and operatively supported on a rearward side of the frame structure and occupying a position completely out of the way of the paperhanger.

6. In combination, a stepladder of a conventional type having a leg structure equipped at its top with a xed horizontal platform-step, and a self-contained wallpaper supporting, paste-applying strip-length measuring and suspending attachment comprising: a frame structure having readily applicable and removable attaching means including a horizontal panel superimposed upon and separably mounted atop said platform-step, a paste containing pan mounted within the confines of said frame structure in a position above said panel, an applicator roller mounted for idling in the receptacle portion of the pan, said roller being freely rotatable by frictional contact of the wallpaper therewith, and support means for the dry roll of wallpaper arranged and supported on one side of the frame structure and below and paralleling a side of the pan, said support means comprising a hanger frame hingedly attached to and associated with a cooperating marginal edge portion of said pan and having a horizontal member provided with a roller, said roller constituting a hub on which the roll of wallpaper is removably wound.

7. The structure deiined in claim 6, and wherein said frame structure is retractible and extensible to vary the vertical height thereof relative to said stepladder, said frame structure embodying a relatively stationary lower section, and an adjustable companion upper section, said panel having a lengthwise forward edge provided with spaced-apart attaching and retaining clips and said clips being engageable with an adjacent cooperating forward edge of the platform step.

8. The structure defined in claim 6, and wherein said frame structure is retractible and extensible to vary the Vertical height thereof relative to said platform step, said frame structure embodying a relatively stationary lower section and an adjustable companion upper section, said sections each having spaced parallel arms with portions thereof overlapping and adjustably connected together, said pan spanning the space between and being mounted on and carried by the arms of the upper section.

9. A wallpaper supplying, paste applying and pasted paper guiding and suspending attachment comprising: a frame structure embodying a pair of spaced parallel interconnected rails provided with means for supporting a roll of wallpaper, a pair of block members mounted in opposite coplanar relationship on opposed interior surfaces of said rails and having upper edges provided with notches constituting cradling seats, a paste-containing pan spanning the space between the block members and having end portions positioned and held in said seats, a pair of cooperating spaced parallel paper-driven, paperguiding and paste-applying rollers, and manually adjustable sleeves adjustably and slidingly mounted on the respective rails and supporting and rotatably mounting said rollers thereon for individual and free rotation by mere frictional driving contact of the strip of wallpaper with said rollers.

l0. The structure defined in claim 9, and in combination, a base fastened between lower end portions of said rails and adapted to rest atop a relatively stationary Support, said rails being disposed at oblique angles in respect to the plane of the base, a freely rotatable guide roller mounted between the upper ends of said rails, a stationary guide member between the rails and in a plane below the plane of and parallel to the guide roller, and edge portions of the rails between said guide roller and guide member having clearly viewable graduated measuring scales.

11, For use in increasing the effective height and functioning use of a stepladder having a top step, an attachment comprising: a frame structure embodying spaced rails, a paste-containing pan supported horizontally between said rails, means on the rails for supporting and handling a roll of Wallpaper, sleeves slidable on respective rails and having depending tongue portions telescoping into the respective end portions of said pan, and spaced parallel rollers mounted for rotation between said tongues, said sleeves being in ,planes at right angles,

to the lengthwise Yaxis-of said pan, said rollers being normally positioned in. therreceptacle portion of the pan, base'means mounted between lower end portions of the spaced rails and 'serving to enable the user to mount the frame structure atop the aforementioned step.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 387,793 McAfee Aug. 14, 1888 453,174 Lohlker May 26, 1891 471,958 Danforth r Mar. 29, 1892 505,109 Lohlker Sept. 19, V1893 692,647 Field Feb. 4, 1902 696,672 Glickman Apr. 1, 1902 

